Torpedo-expulsion tube.



J. BARRAJA-FHAUENFELDER.

TORPEDO EXPULSION TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1, 1914.

L, 1 L1 8, Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

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1 1 R w @a Q we l i 3 W Q Q INVENTOR WITNESS W v i COLUMBIA PLANDURAPHC0.,WA$HINGTON. n. c.

J. BARRAJA-FRAUENF'ELDER.

TORPEDO EXPULSION TUBE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1. 1914.

1 ,1 61., 182.. Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

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Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

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JOSEPH BARRAJA-FRAUENFELDER, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THELAKE TORPEDO BOAT COMPANY OF MAINE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A COR-PORATION OF MAINE.

TORPEDO-EXPULSION TUBE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Application filed December 1, 1914. Serial No. 875,039.

States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofC0nnectiout, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTorpedo-Fixpulsion Tubes, of which the-following is a specification.

Air I for expe-lling torpedoes from" the tubes of submarine torpedoboats, is supplied to the tubes under pressure, and is carried in tanksconnected to thetubes by pipes controlled by various forms of valvesinterposed in the pipes or arranged in separate casings which areconnected to the tubes. -The common arrangement is objectionable owingto the many fittings necessary in connecting the tanks and the valves tothe tubes and the consequent expense in their installment. r J

The object of my invention'is to dispense with the usual compressed airholding tanks and replace them by an air chamber surrounding andcommunicating with the tube, and to provide a simple and efficientconstruction and arrangement of valve mechanism for controlling theadmission of the expulsion air to the tube, and for preventing ingressof water to the air chamber, said valve being located in the chamberandseated by the air used for forcing or firing the'torpedo from the tube.

The invention consists of a torpedo tube having a compressed air-holdingjacket applied to it, preferably integrally, and communicating with it,and; a balance-valve within the air acket which is held to its seat bythe air 'under pressure within the jacket, means being employed foroperating" the valve from a station adjacent to the inner end of thetube, and for preventing the water which rushes into the tube afterincertain a fragmentary longitudinal section of the forward end of asubmarine torpedo boat showing one installation of my invention. Fig. 2is a horizontal section of the breech end of the torpedo tube. Fig. 3 isa vertical longitudinal section drawn on the line aa of Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a transverse sec 5 is a detail transverse section drawn through thebreech end of the torpedo tube and the air-holding jacket illustratingthe construction and arrangement of the valve mechanism, the firingvalve being shown partly in section.

1 designates the forward end of a subma rine or submersible torpedoboat, and 2 a torpedo tube arranged therein and opening through the hullof the boat. The inner end of the tube is provided with a jacket 3,preferably cast integral with the body of the tube 2, and serving as anair-holding chamber 3 which is designed to contain a sufficient quantityof air under pressure to expel one torpedo from the tube, the air beingsupplied to the chamber through a pipe l extending from a suitablesource of compressed air supply not shown.

The jacket is bowed or enlarged on one side in order to provide avertically arranged casing 5, the upper end of which casing constitutesa cylinder 6 which com-J munlcates wlth the air-holding chamber 3,

through an opening 6, and in which the balanced firing-valve hereinafterdescribed, operates. The casing is closed at its lower end and providedwith an intermediate partition 7 thereby providing a dualcasing, saidpartition 7 having a central opening 8 the upper and lower edges ofwhich are shaped to provide valve seats. The space or chamber thusformed below the partition communicates with the inner or breech end iof the tube 2 through an opening 9 formed held'to the bottom of thecasing 5, and the valve is held to its seat by a coiled springinterposedbetween the valve and the bottom of the said casing andsurrounding the said sleeve and valve stem.

(lo-acting with the valve seat at the upper end of the opening 8 is abalanced firingvalve 11 having a stem 11 provided at its upper end witha piston 12 of larger diameter than the valve lland operating in theupper end of the cylinder 6, the valve being-normally held to its seatby a light coiled spring 13 interposed between the cylinder 6 and thusequalize the pressure 'upon the upper and lower sides or ends of thepiston 12 so that the pressure of the air upon the top of the valveproper will hold the latter tightly to its seat.

In order to'operate the firing valve 11 sov 'tha-t'the airunder pressurein the chamber 3 may escape into the breech end of the torpedo tube toexpel the torpedo, I provide the upper end of the cylinder wall with avent port 16 having a vent pipe 17 provided with'a hand operated valve18. To operate the valvell to discharge a torpedo from the tube 2, thevalve 18 is opened to vent the upper end of the cylinder 6 and thusrelease the pressure upon the top of the piston when, by reason of thegreater pressure area of the lower end of the piston relatively to valve11, the valve will be pneumatically lifted from its seat by thecompressed air in the chamber 3 and the air allowed to escape 'past theoutwardly opening check-valve into the breech end of the torpedo tube.As the piston is moved upwardly in the cylinder 6 it will close the ventl6 and thus cut off the escape of the air through it. As the action ofthe firing valve is almost instantaneous, it will be appreciated thatbut very little of the compressed air is wasted. The space or chamber 8between the valves 10 and 11 is vented through a port 19 formed in theouter wall of the casing 5 and having a short pipe 19 provided with anormally open hand operated valve 20.

The inner end of the torpedo tube 1s provided with a breech block 21 ofsuitable design and the tube is drained of the water which rushes intoit when the torpedo is fired, through a valve controlled drain pipe 22leading to one of the ballast tanks of the boat.

23 designates a combined vent and blow ofli pipe leading from a suitablesource of compressed air supply (not shown), and which is provided witha three-way valve 24 having a vent port adapted for adjustment to permitthe escape of the air from the torpedo tube when the outboard coverthereof is open so as to permit the water of flotation to completelyfill the tube prior to the discharge of a torpedo. \Vhen the valve isadjusted to vent the tubethe air from the latter escapes into the boat,and when adjusted to permit the air from the source of compressed airsupply to enter the tube to blow the water therefrom, the outboard coverof the tube is closed and the valve in the drain pipe 22 is opened sothat the water may be blown from the tube into the ballastta'nk withwhich it is connected.

25 designates a pressure gage and 2G a reflex gage connected to thetorpedo tube in any usual way and for the usual purposes.

The operation of the invention is as follows:WVhen a torpedo is to bedischarged, the outboard cover of the tube is first opened, and thethree-way valve 24 adjusted to vent the tube and to permit the tube tobe eompletely filled with water from a surrounding body of water. Thevalve 24 is then closed, as is also the valve 20 controlling the ventingof the chamber 8 between the valves 10 and 11, to place the tube incondition to fire the torpedo. To fire the torpedo, the valve 18 isopened to vent the upper end of the cylinder 6 and thereby operate thefiring valve 11 as previously described and thus permit thecompressed'air in the chamber 3 to enter the tube to force the torpedotherefrom. As soon as the torpedo leaves the tube and the air has beenexhausted therefrom and from the air chamber 3', the spring 10 willautomatically seat the valve 10 and thus prevent the water rushing intothe tube from entering the air-chamber 3 and from coming into contactwith the firing valve 11. As soon as the pressure in the chamber 3 isreduced below the tension of spring 13, said spring 13 will force thevalve 11 to its seat.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide an exceedingly simpleand efiicient apparatus for controlling the expulsion of a torpedo fromthe tube and that by forming the torpedo tube with a compressed-airholding chamber I not only dispense with the usual compressed-air tanksand fittings, but I also locate the firing valve immediately adjacent tothe air inlet to the tube and within convenient reach of the operator,and I also provide a housing for the valves whereby they are protectedagainst accidental damage and consequent leakage.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a torpedo tube, of a jacketsurrounding the tube at or near its rear and forming therewith a chamberfor the reception of compressed air for use in firing the torpedo, saidjacket having made therewith and as a partthereof 'a valve casing andhaving therein a valve for controlling communication between the airchamber and jacket and into the tube The combination witha torpedo tube,of a jacket surrounding the tube at or near its rear and formingtherewith a chamber for the reception of compressed air for use infiring the torpedo, said jacket having made therewith and as a partthereof a valve casing, a valve seat dividing said casing into chambersrespectively communicating with the tube and the air chamber in thejacket, and a valve arranged in said casing for controlling suchcommunication including a balanced firing valve.

The combination with a torpedo tube, of a jacket surrounding the tube ator near its rear and forming therewith a chamber for the reception ofcompressed air for use in firing the torpedo, said jacket having madetherewith and as a part thereof a valve casing, said casingcommunicating with the tube and separating the air chamher from saidtube and having a valve seat, and a valve therein for openingcommunication between the air chamber and the tube.

4. The combination with a torpedo tube, of a acket surrounding the tubeat or near its rear and forming therewith a chamber for the reception ofcompresed air for use in firing the torpedo, said jacket having madetherewith and as a part thereof a valve casing, said casingcommunicating with the tube and separating the air chamber from saidtube and having a valve seat, a valve therein for opening communicationbetween the air chamber and the tube, and a check valve interposedbetween said valve seat and the tube to prevent escape of water from thetube into the air chamber.

5. The combination with a torpedo tube, of a jacket surrounding the tubeat or near its rear and forming therewith a chamber for the reception ofcompressed air for use in firing the torpedo, said jacket having madetherewith and as a part thereof a valve casing, said casing dividedtransversely and communicating with the tube at one side of saiddivision and with the air chamber at the other side and ported to affordcommunication between the two, a valve seating upon said division memberand having a piston fitted in a chamber in the casing above thedivision, and means to operate said piston to open and close said valve.

6. The combination with a torpedo tube, of a acket surrounding the tubeat or near its rear and forming therewith a chamber for the reception ofcompressed air for use in firing the torpedo, said jacket having madetherewith and asa partthereof a valve casing, said casing Verticallyarranged at one side of the jacket and communicating at one end with theairchaniber and at the other-end with the tube and having-a transverselyarranged partition provided with an opening for establishingcommunication between the air chamber and the tube,

"and a balanced firing valve for controlling such communication throughsaid partition.

7. The combination of a torpedo expulsion tube, a jacket surrounding therear end thereof and forming an air chamber with the tube, a valvecasing within said chamber and itself divided into a jacket chamber anda tube chamber, said division having an opening through it forestablishing communication between said chambers, said opening havingvalve seats at opposite ends, a check valve arranged for cooperationwith the seat next to the tube chamber and a firing valve cooperatingwith the seat neXt to the jacket chamber, and means for effecting theoperation of the firing valve.

8. In a firing mechanism for torpedo expulsion tubes, a tube having achamber communicating therewith, a jacket having a chamber communicatingtherewith, said chambers communicating with each other by means of apassage having a valve seat at each end, a springpressed check-valveseated at the tube end of said passage, a firingvalve seated at thejacket end of said passage, a piston connected to said firing-valve,said piston having an opening therethrough, and a manually controlledoutlet leading from the chamber above said piston, said piston beingcapable of closing said outlet when moved toward the end of the chamber.

9. In a firing mechanism for torpedo expulsion tubes, a tube having achamber communicating therewith, a jacket surrounding said tube andhaving a chamber communicating with said jacket, said chamberscommunicating with each other by means of a passage, valve seats at theends of said passage, a spring pressed valve seated at the tube end ofthe passage, a firing-valve seated at the jacket end of the passage, apiston connected to said firing valve and of a diameter greater thansaid valve, said'piston having an opening therethrough wherebycommunication is established between the jacket and the upper end ofsaid chamber, and a manually controlled outlet leading from said upperend of said chamber, said piston being of a size to close said outletwhen moved toward the end of said chamber.

10. The combination of a torpedo expulsion tube, a jacket formedintegral therewith and surrounding the tube at or near its inboard endand forming with the tube an air-holding chamber, an opening arrangedWholly Within the chamber, for effect- In testimony whereof I havehereunto set ing communication between the chamber and my hand this 19thday of November, A. D. the tube, and a valve mechanism for con- 1914.

trolling the admission of air from the air JOSEPH BARRAJA-FRAUENFELDER.

chamber to the tube also located Within and -Witnesses:

forming a substantial part of the jacketed PHILIP B. BRILL, air chamber.Y E. G. GALLAGHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

